Arbutus rises as FDA grants fast-track status to hepatitis B drug

Arbutus Biopharma

15/04/2026 13:37

** Shares of drug developer Arbutus Biopharma ABUS.O rise 4.83% to $4.56 premarket

** Co says the U.S. FDA has granted fast-track status to its experimental drug, imdusiran, for chronic hepatitis B, a serious liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus

** FDA's fast-track tag is meant to speed development and review of treatments for serious diseases with unmet medical needs

** Co says the RNA-based therapy is designed to lower key hepatitis B markers in the body, which it believes could help the immune system better control the virus

** As of last close, ABUS shares down 9.5% YTD

 (Reporting by Kunal Das in Bengaluru)

 ((Kunal.Das2@thomsonreuters.com;))